Life in Care Podcast

Amy

Life in Care explores the realities of real care through real conversations with real people. Hosted by Amy, a Registered Care Manager, this podcast shares authentic stories, experiences, challenges, and insights from across the care sector. Whether you work in care, receive care, support a loved one, or simply want to better understand the sector, Life in Care offers a space for open conversations, shared experiences, and a deeper understanding of the people at the heart of care. Real conversations. Real people. Real care.

  1. 5d ago

    The Hidden Cost of Care: Who Really Pays? | Part 2

    The bill gets paid. The visits get covered. But what happens when the care still isn’t enough? Who pays then—the client giving up their choices, the carer racing against the clock, or the family member quietly filling the gaps? In this episode of Life in Care Podcast, Amy looks beyond the invoice to explore the hidden cost of care: the pressure, sacrifices and responsibilities that don’t appear on a bill. Following Part 1’s conversation about profit in care, we explore: 💙 How rushed visits can affect dignity, choice and independence💙 The pressure carers face when time doesn’t match someone’s needs💙 Families becoming unpaid carers without noticing how much they’ve taken on💙 How caring responsibilities can change relationships💙 Why we need to listen and review support before someone reaches breaking point💙 What better care could look like for everyone involved “The figures balance. The experience doesn’t.” What would YOU change first to make care work better for clients, carers and families? Tell me in the comments. ▶ Watch Part 1 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5htrUd1A3RumLYI4DlZDqD?si=BRZvBDCrQ6Cu6DGUeFRNGg Please subscribe, like this episode and share it with someone who needs to be part of this conversation. Your support helps more people hear the voices and experiences behind care. Disclaimer: The views expressed are my own. Examples are hypothetical to protect confidentiality. This episode is for general discussion and does not replace individual professional advice. Please keep identifiable client, colleague and family details out of the comments.

  2. Oct 4

    Should Anyone Profit in Care? | Part 1 | Life in Care Podcast

    Should anyone profit in care? My answer is yes—it’s a business. But how that profit is made, and what it means for clients and carers, deserves a proper conversation. In Part One, I look at what we’re really paying for when we arrange home care, from the carer at the door to the work happening behind each visit. We explore:💷 A hypothetical £40 hourly care breakdown—and why the difference between the fee and the carer’s wage isn’t all profit.🚗 Carers’ pay, travel, training and support.📞 Office coordination, calls to GPs and pharmacies, and responding to carers and clients.📋 Changing care plans, reviews and support after hospital discharge.🌱 How responsible profit can support investment, stability and better care.💙 Affordability, transparency and the questions clients and families should feel comfortable asking. Can a care business be financially successful while keeping people at its heart? And when the figures balance but someone’s care needs still aren’t met, who carries the gap? That’s where our conversation continues in Part Two: Who Really Pays the Price of Care? 💬 What does responsible profit in care look like to you? Share your thoughts in the comments, keeping personal details and names confidential. 🔔 Tap the subscribe button so you don’t miss Part Two.👍 Show the episode some love with a thumbs up.↗️ Share it with someone who should be part of this conversation. Disclaimer: The views expressed are my own and do not represent my employer or any other organisation. I do not own a care business. All financial figures and scenarios are hypothetical illustrations for discussion, not actual company accounts, industry averages or recommended charges. Actual costs, wages and profits vary between providers.

  3. Sep 27

    What Being a Carer Really Teaches You | Christa’s Story

    What is it really like to work as a carer and how can caring for others change your own life? In Episode 18 of Life in Care Podcast, I sit down with Christa, a carer at Right at Home Wandsworth & Lambeth, to talk about her journey into care, which began with caring for her grandmother. Christa shares the realities of being a carer, from the challenges that come with the role to the incredible moments that remind her why care matters. We talk about the relationships carers build with their clients, the lessons care can teach us, and how working so closely with people can change the way we see life. But this conversation goes beyond Christa’s work. She opens up about experiences that are deeply personal to her and how they have shaped the person she is today. We talk about kindness, courage, perspective, and the huge impact her faith in God has had on her life and journey. This is a conversation about care, but it is also about the person behind the uniform. If you work in social care, are thinking about becoming a carer, support a loved one, manage a care service, or simply want to understand more about the people providing care every day, this conversation is for you. 💬 What has working in care taught you about life? Share your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear your story. Please subscribe to Life in Care Podcast, like the episode and share it with someone who might enjoy the conversation. The more we talk openly about care, the more people we can bring into the conversation. New episodes every week. #LifeInCarePodcast #Carer #SocialCare #CareWorker #HomeCare

  4. Sep 13

    Different Countries, Same Purpose - Care in England & Texas | Life in Care Podcast Ep. 16

    What does care look like on opposite sides of the Atlantic? In this episode of Life in Care Podcast, I’m joined by Natalia from Rhome, Texas, who has recently stepped into a new role within the care industry. We talk about Natalia’s journey into care, the experiences that have shaped her, her new role and what continues to drive her passion for supporting people. We also explore something I’ve been really excited to bring to the podcast: the similarities and differences between care in England and Texas. From the way care is delivered and the roles people hold, to the challenges, opportunities and experiences that come with working in the industry, this is a conversation that shows that although we may work thousands of miles apart, so much of what matters in care remains the same. Whether you're a carer, registered manager, care coordinator, care professional, family member or someone beginning the journey of finding care for a loved one, I’d love to hear your perspective too. 🌎 Are you working in care somewhere else in the world? What is care like where you live? What do you think we could learn from one another? Share your experiences in the comments — your story could even become part of a future episode. And if you have a story you’d like to share on Life in Care Podcast, I’d love to hear from you. Different places. Same purpose. Better care, together. ❤️ Subscribe, give the episode some love with a 👍 and get yourself into the comments! Life in Care Podcast Real conversations. Real people. Real care.

  5. Sep 6

    What Really Happens Behind the Scenes? | Life in Care Podcast Ep. 15

    What really happens after a carer raises a concern? In this episode of Life in Care Podcast, I take you behind the scenes of safeguarding in domiciliary care and talk through what can happen from that very first phone call. A concern does not automatically mean abuse or neglect has taken place. It could begin with an unexplained wound, pressure damage, a bruise, a fall, a medication issue, a change in behaviour or simply a carer feeling that something does not seem right. I talk about what happens next, including keeping the client safe, gathering information, reviewing care notes and risk assessments, involving healthcare professionals, raising concerns with the local authority, considering CQC notifications, supporting staff fairly and making sure the person receiving care never gets lost in the process. We also look at investigations, Duty of Candour, lessons learned, accountability, psychological safety and why good safeguarding should never be about simply finding someone to blame. Sometimes one small concern can uncover something much bigger. Other times, it can help us improve a care plan, identify a change in someone’s needs or strengthen the systems around them. This episode is for carers, managers, coordinators, families and anyone who wants to understand what really happens behind the scenes in care. If you enjoy the conversation, give the episode a like, subscribe to Life in Care Podcast and let me know your thoughts in the comments. Life in Care Podcast — Real conversations. Real people. Real care.

About

Life in Care explores the realities of real care through real conversations with real people. Hosted by Amy, a Registered Care Manager, this podcast shares authentic stories, experiences, challenges, and insights from across the care sector. Whether you work in care, receive care, support a loved one, or simply want to better understand the sector, Life in Care offers a space for open conversations, shared experiences, and a deeper understanding of the people at the heart of care. Real conversations. Real people. Real care.